"What did you say?!"
Yuan Yao turned over and got out of bed.
Danqing lowered her head and said, "Your Highness, Consort Zhao of Yonghe Palace had a three-foot-long white silk ribbon hanging in the palace last night. This morning, the palace servants who were serving her went to wake her up and only then did they notice it."
When she was discovered, Consort Zhao's body was already stiff.
White silk...
Hanging himself...
"How could this happen?" Yuan Yao was extremely surprised and crawled towards the bedside. "Where is Huaiyao? Does Huaiyao know about this?"
Danqing replied, "By this time, I presume all the palaces already know?"
Then, Huaiyao must know!
Yesterday, Huaiyao went to see Consort Zhao.
Today, he's gone...
How devastating must Huaiyao have been?
Yuan Yao said to the still-lying Ninth Prince, "Father, shall I go to Beichen Palace to see Huaiyao?"
"hiss……"
The Ninth Prince gasped, his breath coming from his nose: "Little Yao'er, you've almost pulled all my hair out."
Yuan Yao then realized that a strand of her father's hair was tangled on her fingers...
Yuan Yao's little voice was filled with guilt: "Daddy, does it hurt? Yao'er will blow on it for you?"
As she spoke, she pouted her little lips, leaned close to the top of the Ninth Prince's head, and blew a breath.
The Ninth Prince raised his hand and ruffled her hair, making it fluffy and messy, before ordering, "Serve me and the Princess as we wash up."
After washing up, the Ninth Prince took Yuan Yao, changed into a low-key light-colored outfit, and went to Yonghe Palace together.
Outside Yonghe Palace, many palanquins were parked, including the emperor's palanquin and the empress's phoenix palanquin...
White silk has already been hung at Yonghe Palace.
The original red lanterns were replaced with white lanterns, creating a striking contrast with the colors of the other palaces.
When I arrived, the other palace gates were still bustling with festive preparations for the Mid-Autumn Festival...
In this palace, the death of a concubine is not a big deal; things will continue as usual.
The royal Mid-Autumn Festival banquet was still being prepared in an orderly manner in the Imperial Garden...
Yuan Yao took a deep breath and, led by the Ninth Prince, stepped into Yonghe Palace.
From afar, a young eunuch announced, "Your Majesty has arrived! Princess Yuan Yao has arrived..."
The father and daughter entered Consort Zhao's bedchamber together.
Outside the bedchamber, the concubines of lower rank were feigning sadness.
Inside the bedchamber, the Emperor, Empress, and Consort Lin sat expressionless to one side.
Upon seeing the Ninth Prince, the group all looked up at him.
The group nodded in greeting.
The screen has been removed.
Consort Zhao's body has been prepared and is now laid quietly on the bed.
Beside the bed, the maid in green who had helped her yesterday was now covering her mouth, lying on the ground, crying her heart out.
By the window, there was a high chair with a small ceramic bowl on it.
In the ceramic pot, the branches and leaves of a hibiscus flower trembled gently in the breeze...
Yuan Yao opened her eyes wide and looked.
That hibiscus flower was brought by Huaiyao.
The flowers are gone, but the branches have been planted in the soil...
The emperor cleared his throat and looked at the Ninth Prince: "A-Yuan, in your opinion, what should be done about this matter?"
Clearly, he was just trying to make conversation.
The Ninth Prince gave him a cold glare: "Do you need me to arrange things for your women?"
emperor:"……"
The emperor could only chuckle awkwardly and pretend to go for tea.
Yuan Yao shook her head.
The emperor is doomed once he sees the Nine Thousand Years Old.
Asking this kind of question at this time is just asking for trouble, isn't it?
Ah Yuan, Ah Yuan, that's so cheesy!
Those unaware of the situation might mistakenly believe that the Ninth Prince and the Emperor had some kind of indescribable relationship!
Huh...
Yuan Yao shivered.
The Empress spoke up at the opportune moment: "Consort Zhao, you are still a consort, and you have served the Emperor for many years..."
Although she passed away at this critical juncture, considering her contributions, shall we conduct her funeral according to the rites for a palace concubine?
After the Empress finished speaking, Consort Lin looked at the Ninth Prince and said with restraint and indifference, "The Marquis of Changdu's family is about to be imprisoned, isn't he?"
"Hmm," the Ninth Prince replied indifferently.
Consort Lin frowned slightly, then withdrew her gaze from the Ninth Prince's face: "In that case, let's choose a day to send it to the imperial mausoleum."
Once the Marquis of Changdu's residence is raided, Consort Zhao will be implicated and become a disgraced concubine, at which point she will not even be allowed to be buried in the imperial mausoleum.
Although she has made mistakes, she has also given birth to a child, and she has not committed any crimes in recent years.
Let's give her some dignity and let her leave this world cleanly.
The Empress nodded: "I think so too."
The Ninth Prince said expressionlessly, "Let Her Majesty the Empress handle this matter personally."
The Queen nodded.
The emperor took a sip of tea before speaking: "You've worked hard, Empress. A-Yuan has just returned from the Huai River; he should rest for a while."
The Empress had long understood the Emperor's attitude towards the Ninth Prince.
She said gently yet distantly, "Your Majesty, I will handle everything properly and give Consort Zhao a proper send-off."
The emperor nodded, unwilling to linger at Yonghe Palace: "Seal the gates of Yonghe Palace. Tonight, the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet will proceed as planned."
"Yes." The Empress curtsied.
The Emperor stood up: "Yuan Yao is too young to stay here any longer. A Yuan, take her back first."
The Ninth Prince, with a cold expression, picked up Yuan Yao and walked out.
We left Yonghe Palace.
Yuan Yao said in a childish voice, "Daddy, Yao'er will go to Beichen Palace to keep Huaiyao company?"
The Ninth Prince bent down, put her down on the ground, and patted her little head: "Go and come back soon."
"Uh-huh!"
Yuan Yao nodded obediently, called Dan Qing, and went to Beichen Palace together.
Watching the short-legged little boy huffing and puffing as he walked, the emperor summoned a young eunuch: "Go, take Yuan Yao there in a sedan chair."
The little eunuch shrieked, "This servant obeys!"
The emperor was fairly satisfied with the volume of his voice.
He lifted his foot and strode to catch up with the Ninth Prince: "A-Yuan, both the Western Hills and the Chu Kingdom have sent people to visit the young prince..."
"Hmm," the Ninth Prince replied indifferently.
The emperor pressed on: "I heard that the people arrived in the capital yesterday, bringing a lot of things. It's a pity they're not tributes for me, humph!"
Nine Thousand Years Old: "..."
The emperor, with his hands behind his back, said confidently, "I suspect you don't have it either. But Yuan Yao definitely does!"
If Yuan Yao has it, I want it too!
Nine Thousand Years Old: "..."
He stopped, stood in the sunlight, and looked at the emperor with a mocking expression: "Do you look any different from someone who has just lost a concubine?"
The Emperor: "...Hehe."
When Yuan Yao arrived at Beichen Palace, the little eunuch at the gate saw her and whispered, "Princess, Princess Huairou has also arrived."
Yuan Yao nodded: "I understand."
She found the Red Palace with practiced ease.
Even before she reached the door, she called out in her sweet, childlike voice, "Sister Huaiyao, may I come in?"
"Come in."
Huaiyao's voice came from inside.
Yuan Yao lifted her skirt and stepped into the bedchamber.
On the table sits a celadon porcelain vase, inside which roses are in full bloom.
Huaiyao was dressed in red, and her expression remained unchanged.
Huairou looked up and sighed silently at her.
Upon seeing Yuan Yao, Huai Yao said irritably, "It's a festival today, and you've come without bringing a gift?"
Yuan Yao smiled and said, "I already gave you the gift yesterday! These are the only two roses in the entire capital!"
Huaiyao pursed her lips and glared at her angrily.
suddenly……
"Wow……"
Huaiyao suddenly threw herself into Huairou's arms.
Huairou's eyes welled up with tears: "Huaiyao, don't be afraid, your elder sister is here."
Even Yuan Yao's eyes were slightly red.
Huaiyao burst into tears: "Why? Why didn't you bring me any gifts when you came?"
Clearly, today is the Mid-Autumn Festival! Why today...?
If you're going to die, then die. Why did you have to die today?!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com